Board & Committees News

The annual United Way Pancake Breakfast has been a celebrated tradition for more than a decade at the Vancouver Board of Education (VBE). This year, like years past, employees from all over the district attended the event, which signals the start of the campaign.

You are likely aware that teachers are presently involved in a labour dispute, phase one of which commenced on the first day of the current school year. As part of this action, members of the BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) in every school district in the province are choosing to not prepare report cards. The Labour Relations Board (LRB) ruled that during the current job action, teachers need not prepare or distribute report cards; or provide any student assessment data to principals or school office staff, except for Grade 12 marks required for graduation, post-secondary applications and scholarship purposes.

Last week, VSB Superintendent Steve Cardwell appeared on “Your Education Matters” with Paul Shaker. During the interview, Cardwell touched on a number of themes while outlining his vision for the future of public education.

Board Chairperson Patti Bacchus and Superintendent Steve Cardwell attended and presented a brief to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services today. The brief included five key areas of concern for the Vancouver School Board and likely for most school districts across the province.

Vancouver Board of Education trustees, on February 21, voted unanimously in favour of Vice-Chair Jane Bouey’s motion of support for Bill C-389, which adds gender identity and gender expression to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination in the Canadian Human Rights Act.

There is strong community support for the development of an Aboriginal-focussed school, according to Vancouver Board of Education Chair Patti Bacchus, but what form it will take needs further thought and discussion.

As I reflect on the past year, the proverb about living in interesting times comes to mind, and the question it raises about whether doing so is a blessing or a curse. There have indeed been some moments that felt somewhat cursed, but overall I believe we are truly blessed to be part of this complex and wonderful organization known as the VSB.

The Vancouver Board of Education should not consider the closure of five elementary schools at this time according to one of nine recommendation from senior staff in the Administrative Report: Public Consultation on School Closures and Recommendations to the Vancouver Board of Education.

On Nov 22, 2010, Marc Keilburger, co-founder of Free the Children, addressed the members of a school board committee and a group of Lord Byng students who are on their way to volunteer in Kenya in Dec, 2010.

As Vancouver gears up for the 2010 Pride Parade and Festival, the Vancouver School Board is pleased to report on its continued leadership in addressing issues affecting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) students in schools. The VSB is committed to creating safe, inclusive, learning environments that celebrate diversity.